Make your own DIY pegboard!

Big news guys, I finally took the plunge into the world of power tools the other week… I bought a power drill! This was a long-overdue purchase. I now feel like a superhero; a whole new area of crafting has been opened up to me.

I’ve been more and more interested in woodwork over the past few months, so this new gadget is going to enable me to create much more ambitious DIYs. I wasted no time in getting stuck in with this! The very first thing I’ve made with my new drill is this geometric DIY pegboard. Peg boards are kind of everywhere just lately (Google searches for “pegboard” have more than doubled from 2012 to 2015!) – and no wonder, they combine quirky décor with practical storage, making them a perfect addition to any craft or DIY workspace. Instead of forking out £40+ for one (like this one from Urban Outfitters), just follow my simple tutorial to make your own.

What you’ll need

A medium/large rectangle of plywood, at least 15 mm thick

Power drill

Hand saw

10 mm wide dowelling

Fine sandpaper

Spray paint

Masking tape

What to do

1. On your plywood, mark with a pencil where each of your peg holes will go. I found it easiest to draw a series of evenly spaced vertical and horizontal lines to form a grid, with the holes going at each point the lines cross.

2. Drill a hole through each point you’ve marked, making sure you drill all the way through the wood. Ensure you use a bit that is the same size as your dowelling, so the pegs fit in securely.

3. Cut your dowelling into approximately 6 cm lengths and sand the edges smooth. You can make as many of these dowelling pegs as you want!

4. Insert the pegs into the board – if the holes are a bit small, just drill them again with a slightly larger bit (or wiggle the drill a little as you drill through).

5. Time to paint! This step is completely optional (you might like the raw wood look), but I think paint adds a bit of personality to the pegboard. I used white and grey matt spray paints and masking tape to add a geometric colour block across the peg board. If you’re a bit more arty, you could hand paint a design into it, or add words – get creative!

6. Use your DIY pegboard to hang up your craft supplies, tools or kitchen utensils. The dowel pegs are really versatile! For example, I drilled a hole into a tin can so I could hang it from one of the dowels – be imaginative and see what you can hang on your pegboard!

I can’t quite express how thrilled I am with this project – it’s the first proper power tool project I’ve designed and I love it! If you’re a power tool newbie, or even a seasoned pro, you’ve gotta give this DIY peg board a try. Customise the size, colours and pattern to match your craft room, work space, kitchen, desk, shed, office… or go all out make one for each room! I’m already planning my next one…

About me

Mike is the owner and founder of The Crafty Gentleman, a website aimed at encouraging men into the world of crafts. He loves nothing more than an afternoon spent crafting, with a cup of tea and some good tunes in the background.

11 comments

Hi, I get alot of the same items (I buy in bulk) and I am looking to have a peg board that will support the long (12″) pegs so that I can do like the stores and hang several like items on one peg.
Will this work with long legs I buy? Can it handle the weight?

Hello – this method should work with the longer pegs, yes! Although it will depend on what you plan to hang from them. Obviously, the more heavy the item, the less likely it is that the pegs will support them. You could try using a slightly thicker dowel to help support heavier items. Hope this helps!